BARJAM IS SCOUT LEADER OF YEAR.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER - Tara Barjam, a Girl Scout leader in the Antelope Valley for 11 years, has been honored as the local Girl Scout Leader of the Year.

Along with leading Troop 630, she has worked with Girl Scouting's Tierra Del Sol service unit and with Sigma Tau Beta, a program for older girls that she developed.

``Girl Scouts has never had a more deserving leader to receive this award,'' said Amber Lavy, a Senior Girl Scout in Barjam's troop.

Barjam's troop now contains 16 girls, some of whom started with her 11 years ago. Seven new members have joined in the past two years.

Barjam has taken her troop to Disneyland, Sea World and Palm Springs, and has been arranging fundraisers to pay for a 21-day trip this summer to Europe. She also helps the girls earn badges, Silver Awards, and Gold Awards, the top Girl Scout rank.

Girls in her troop and the Sigma Tau Beta program have washed cars, hosted craft workshops and operated garage sales to earn money for the trip.

At an award ceremony attended by about 125 people, girls praised Barjam for her patience in working with 17- and 18-year-olds and for teaching girls to do their best, to better themselves and their community, and to have fun.

Barjam lets the girls vote on the events they want to do, set realistic program goals, and plan long-term trips. Girls in Barjam's troop for 11 years said they have grown to be like a family.

``Tara welcomes everyone and treats us all fairly,'' said Megan Dyke, a Senior Girl Scout.

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(color) Tara Barjam of Palmdale has been named the Antelope Valley's Girl Scout Leader of the Year.